Summary of Recommendations for Advancing Cohousing
Dr. Kim Bergeron, Queen’s University, delivered a TED-style presentation titled “Where we live shapes how we age: Designing communities where no one has to grow old alone.” The talk challenged participants to think differently about housing. Dr. Bergeron explored how modern housing development has gradually removed many of the opportunities for everyday social interaction that once helped build strong communities.
The presentation focused on the need to transform how cohousing and community-based housing are planned, funded, and developed in Canada. Housing was framed not only as an infrastructure issue, but also as a health issue. Social isolation and loneliness contribute significantly to declining physical and mental health across the lifespan. Housing that intentionally fosters connection, mutual support, and social participation can improve individual and community well-being while helping to reduce pressures on healthcare and housing systems. The presentation called for housing systems that prioritize people, community, and long-term social benefits alongside financial sustainability.
The main points were:
- Citizen-led groups bring the vision, commitment, and community-building expertise needed to create successful cohousing projects, but they should not be expected to become housing developers in the process.
- The complexity of land acquisition, financing, development approvals, construction management, and affordability requirements creates significant barriers that make it difficult for community groups to move intentional community housing projects from concept to reality.
Key recommendations included:
- Building stronger partnerships between cohousing groups and organizations with existing development expertise. Non-profit housing providers, organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, socially minded private developers, faith-based organizations, and experienced housing partners can help navigate development processes while allowing community groups to focus on building the social connections and shared values that make cohousing unique.
- Reforming government funding and affordability frameworks, particularly at the federal level. Current housing policies often fail to recognize the value of shared spaces such as common kitchens, gathering rooms, gardens, workshops, and other communal amenities that are central to intentional communities. Funding programs should explicitly support these features and incentivize developments that promote social connection, affordability, and healthy aging.
- Encouraging policy leadership and advocacy among civil servants and registered professionals. Urban planners, municipal governments, and policymakers were encouraged to incorporate intentional community design into official plans, secondary plans, and development policies. Cohousing should be recognized as a legitimate housing option, not a niche alternative. Municipal staff and planners were encouraged to work directly with community groups, identify policy barriers, and advocate for more diverse housing models that support community well-being.
The closing message was simple but powerful:
Healthy aging begins with healthy communities. The communities we design today will be the ones we grow old in. As we plan for the future, we must move beyond simply building the current type of housing (private homes with no community space) and instead create places that foster connection, belonging, and support. Design communities where no one has to grow old alone.
To learn more about cohousing, visit Kingston Cohousing and the Canadian Cohousing Network.